NBA Roundup: Allen's Late Surge Helps Heat Halt Skid

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 11:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 11:48 p.m.

MIAMI | Ray Allen scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter on a milestone day for the veteran, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each scored 24 and the Miami Heat beat the Houston Rockets 113-104 on Sunday to snap their worst skid in three years.

Chris Bosh added 18 points for the Heat, who won for just the second time in their last seven games. They were down 97-92 following a 3-pointer by James Harden midway through the fourth, then finished the game on a 21-7 run.

Allen had 11 points during that late stretch, including a 3-pointer that allowed him to pass Allen Iverson for 21st on the NBA's scoring list. It was also the 750th regular-season win that Allen was a part of in his career.

Wade helped spark the run with a 50-foot assist that set up a 3-pointer from the left corner by Allen, who also made three technical-foul free throws down the stretch. One came after a defensive three-second violation, another following Houston's second delay-of-game whistle on the afternoon, and the third when Beverley was hit with a technical in the final minute.

James hit a pair of free throws with 46 seconds left for his first points of the final quarter, and that sealed it for Miami, which moved back within three games of Indiana for the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Allen took another pass from Wade to score inside with 3:31 left, giving Miami the lead for good. Allen now has 24,370 points, two more than Iverson.

The first surprise of the day came about 20 minutes before tip-off, when the Heat announced Greg Oden would be starting at center. It was the second start of the season for Oden.